Universally adjustable control device



July 31, 1962 s. N. SMALL UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1959 INVENTOR. 5/7Ml/EL jM/ILL H TTORNE Y United States Patent Dffice 3,047,688 Patented July 31, 1962 3,047,688 UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE CONTROL DEVICE Samuel N. Small, 920 Val Park Ave., Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor of one-half to Jacob Salzman, Jamaica,

' Filed Nov. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 852,436

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-61.41)

This invention relates to devices universally supporting a switch actuating element, operation of which will actuate a circuit in controlling various types and kinds of operations in machines or apparatus of various types and kinds. More particularly, the invention consists in a dcvice of the character described employing two relatively adjustable movable arms for controlling and regulating the position of a switch actuating element with respect to a product or workpiece in providing the desired control thereof.

The novel features of the invention will be best under- 2-2 of FIG. 1, with parts of the construction shown in elevation and broken away and also diagrammatically illustrating a workpiece or product in position to operatively engage the switch operating element of the device; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section 3-3 of FIG. 2.

My improved device comprises basically two rotatable adjustable arms, namely a clamp arm and a telescoping arm 11. The arm 10 has jaw ends '12 and 13 defined by vertically arranged apertures 14, 15, including splits, as at 16, 17, respectively. The jaw end 12 has an angular notch 18 to establish a key engagement with a nut 19 mounted on the threaded end of a clamp rod 20, the opposed end of which extends through the split of. the jaw 13 and has a crank 21 pinned thereto so that, in rotation of the crank 21, the jaws 12, 13 may be brought into clamping engagement with a tubular pivot 22 arranged in the aperture 14 and an offset tubular portion 23 arranged in theaperture 15, the offset 23 being integral with the tubular part 24 of the arm 11. Slidably and rotatably adjustable in the part 2 4 is the other tubular part '25 of the arm 11, predetermined adjustments being fixed by a set screw 26, as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The pivot portion 23 extends beyond the upper surface of the arm 10 and fixed to the pivot portion is a ring 27 which retains the arms 10 and 11 against separation, while permitting free rotation of the part 24 in the arm 10.

The jaw end 12 of the arm .10 is supported by the tubular pivot 22 in a Ushaped bracket 23, the pivot being pinned to the bracket, as indicated at 29 in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The bracket 28 can be secured to any suitable support and, in the present illustration, the support is in the form of a strap or plate 30.

Welded or otherwise secured to the outer end of the part of the arm 11 is a vertically arranged sleeve bearing 31 supporting a set screw 32 controlling vertical and rotatable positioning of a tubular member or post 33 in the bearing. This adjustment is provided in order to control positioning of a switch actuating element 34 with respect to a table or bench 35 or a product or article 36 movable on or with the support 35. The. element 34 has substantially on the line a rounded end 37 extending beyond the end of the post 33 so that the element can be actuated by movement of a product, as at 36 in the direction of the arrow 38 or in the direction of the arrow 39 or, in fact, most any direction, bearing in mind adjustments for positioning the ele ment 34, as will be apparent from the various adjustments provided between the arms Ill and 11 and their parts and the post 33 supported in the part 25 of the arm 11.

The element 34 is pivotally supported within the lower portion of the post on a bolt 40, note FIG. 3 of the drawing, a coil spring being arranged upon the bolt, as at 41, with one end fixed to the element, as indicated at 42 and to the post, as indicated at 43, so as to normally support the element 34 in the position shown in FIG. 2 with the rounded portion 44 engaging the lower part of one slot 45 formed in the tubular post 33. The opposed wall of the post has another slot 46, in which a protruding nose 47 on the element 34 operates to maintain alinement of the element in the post. The element 34, adjacent the hose, has a notch forming a raised shoulder 48 adapted to operatively engage the actuating part 49' of any suitable switch 50. In this connection, it will appear, from a consideration of FIG. 2 of the drawing, that the edge of the element 34, beyond the shoulder 48, is so shaped as to maintain a substantially constant position of the switch 49, particularly in the continued movement of the product or the like 36 in the direction of the arrow 38, or in the direction of the arrow 39 in other uses than that indicated in FIG. 2.

At 51 I have diagrammatically illustrated circuit wires extending from the switch 59 through a cap 52 at the upper end of the post, the wires, in turn, extending to any device, machine or apparatus, operation of which is to be controlled by actuation of the element 34. In this connection, it will be apparent that the element may operate to close a circuit to put some mechanism or the like into operation or to break a circuit to stop or check operation of a device or mechanism.

The uses to which a device of the type and kind under consideration can be .put are numerous and are applicable to various types and kinds of machines or apparatus, the sole purpose of my invention being to provide means to so adjustably support a switch actuating element as to make it possible to position the same in most any angular position over the major portion of the surface area of a table, bench or other support or in the path of movement of products or workpieces with respect to positioning of the element.

In the use of the device, clamping engagementof the jaws 12 and 13 on the pivots 22 and 23 is first loosened and the primary arms 10 and 11 are then brought into adjusted position to generally locate the position of the post 33, after which, the jaws are clamped by operation of therod 20. It will be understood, in this connection, that the part 25 of the arm 11 is adjusted longitudinally as well as rotatably in controlling the post position. After this general positioning of the post has been established, then the post 33 is adjusted vertically and rotatably in the bearing 31, so as to further more definitely position the element 34 with respect to the article or product, as at 36, or a particular part thereof to be engaged by the element 34. In this latter connection, it will be understood that, in many instances, the contour of 36 may be irregular and disposed in various angular positions.

In the present illustration, it will be apparent that the post 33 has been referred to as assuming a vertical position with the element 34 extending downwardly. By virtue of rotatable adjustment of the part 25 in the part 24, it will be understood that the element 34 can be disposed in any position within the three hundred sixty degrees s amans so that controls would be had with movements in directions of the top of the arm of the device, as shown in the drawing, or in the direction of opposed sides of the arms '10 and 1 1, as illustrated.

By virtue of the flexibility of my improved device, the same can he applied to unlimited uses and, in this con nection, it will also be understood that, instead of mounting the bracket 28 for what can be regarded as horizon tal swinging movement of the arm 10, the bracket could be mounted to provide vertical swinging movement of the arm 10 or, in 'fact, movement in any angular direction with respect to the horizontal or vertical.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising two arms, one arm having at the ends thereof jaws, means pivotally supporting the other arm in one of the jaws, a pivotal support for the first named arm arranged in the other jaw, a single clamping element for simultaneously moving both jaws into operative and inoperative positions, the second named arm comprising a tubular part extending angularly from its pivot in the first named arm, a second part slidably and rotatably mounted in the first part, means retaining said parts in relative adjusted posi tions, the second named part including, at its free end, a sleeve bearing a post slidably and rotatably adjustable in said bearing, means for fixing the post in diiferent positions of adjustment in the bearing, a switch mounted in connection with the post, and a switch actuating element movably supported in the post and operatively engaging said switch.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein tensional means is employed to normally support said element in inoperative position.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the post includes means operatively engaging the element in support thereof in inoperative position.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided for retaining the arms in coupled engagement with each other while permitting swinging movement of the arms one upon the other through an are greater than 180.

5. A device of the character described, comprising an arm having at one end an adjustable pivotal mounting in connection with a support, another arm one end of which is rotatably adjustable in the free end portion of the first arm, a single operative means for securing the second arm in the first arm and the first arm in its support in preventing relative movement of the arms with respect to each other and to the support, a switch supporting member rotatable and slidahly adjustable in connection with the second named arm, said member supporting a switch actuating element and a switch actuated by said element, and means maintaining the element normally in inoperative position.

6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein the slidable and rotatable adjustment of the member is through the medium of a part slidably and rotatably adjustable di rectly in the second named arm;

7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said part includes a sleeve bearing in which said member has a slidable and rotatable adjustment.

8. A device of the character described, comprising two arms, one arm having at the ends thereof jaws, means pivotally supporting the other arm in one of the jaws, a pivotal support for the first named arm arranged in the other jaw, a single clamping element extending longitudinally of said first arm for simultaneously moving both jaws into operative and inoperative positions, a post slidably and rotatably adjustable in the second named arm, and an element pivotally supported in one end portion of the post. I

9. In a device of the character described employing a post, means for rotatably and slidably adjusting and positively fixing the position of said post with respect to a support, a switch actuating element pivotally supported directly on one end portion of the post, a switch mounted in said end portion of the post, tensional means coupled with said element and normally supporting said element in operative position with respect to said switch, and means on the post and element providing continued travel of said element beyond the point of actuation of the switch while maintaining the switch in operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,153 Forth Jan. 18, 1910 1,812,744 Glenn June 30, 1931 2,289,105 Doane July 7, 1942 2,440,873 Popp et al May 4, 1948 2,572,231 Woodward Oct. 23, 1951 2,599,306 Whitehead June 3, 1952 2,667,631 Schaurte Jan. 26, 1954 2,687,454 Hall Aug. 24, 1954 2,913,547 Zazzara Nov. 17, 1959 3,000,606 Storm et. a1 Sept. 19, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 92,073 Sweden Apr. 21, 1938 

